Invisible staircase

ABSTRACT

A movable and reconfigurable staircase. The stairs can be configured as a straight stair, a circular stair, or a combination stair. The stairs can be placed in a stored configuration as well.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to static structures and, more particularly, to Stairs and staircases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various stair designs are known in the prior art for gaining access between floors of residential and commercial buildings. Most such stair constructions employ one-piece, straight stairs, stringers, and handrails. While this does not ordinarily present any problem, the use of one-piece, continuous stairs either requires that skilled carpenters using special tools construct the stairs in situ or that special and expensive packaging, shipping, and handling requirements be met to ship pre-constructed stairs or stair components from a manufacturing facility to the job site.

These conditions are particularly true for spiral or circular stair designs, which are gaining in popularity because of the relatively smaller amount of floor space they occupy as compared with straight stair designs. In other words, while a spiral stairway occupies a relatively small space when installed in a building, it is somewhat difficult to construct. On the other hand, pre-manufactured spiral stairs present special packaging and shipping difficulties. Moreover, even after such stairs reach a job site, difficulty may be encountered in getting the stairway into the building in which it is to be used. Further, many spiral and circular stairways are made of metal. Such metal stairways require even higher levels of skill and more specialized tools to construct.

In building construction and, more particularly, in-home construction, installing of a curved stairway adds to the aesthetic appeal of a home interior. Furthermore, homeowners and builders realize that a curved staircase is generally a good investment. A curved staircase may increase the home's resale value compared to the relatively lesser value added by a simple, straight staircase. Unfortunately, prior art curved staircases are generally more expensive than straight staircases. Such increased expense is primarily due to the cost of forming the curved portions of the curved staircase. Furthermore, the installing of a curved Staircase requires a higher degree of skill and is sometimes comparable to the high level of skill needed in cabinet making.

The increased expense is also due in part to the time-consuming manner in which such curved staircases are installed. For example, previous art methods of curved staircase construction include trial-and-error cutting and fitting of the staircase framing and fitting of the individual components of the staircase. Prior art building methods are also typically performed entirely at the job site, wherein the curved staircase is built into the structure.

In such methods, an outer wall is framed with studs, and an inner wall is then framed with the stringers being attached to the studs of the inner wall. Risers are then cut and assembled into individual-steps to tie the outer wall to the inner wall to form the curved staircase steps. As may be appreciated, such a conventional method for curved staircase construction is hugely time-consuming. Furthermore, such a traditional building method is highly dependent upon skilled labor and the availability of specialized tooling to produce a staircase. That meets precise tolerance requirements mandated by local and national building codes.

To reduce the time and cost required to construct curved staircases, several manufacturers have developed pre-assembled, completed curved staircases that are assembled at a factory and shipped as a unit to the job site. Such pre-assembled staircases are then installed by interconnecting the staircase at strategic points to the building structure. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty in controlling the tolerances of the building structure to which the completed staircase is to be connected, problems with the fitment of the curved staircases may occur. In addition, the generation of excess material wastage, schedule conflicts such as with framers, and issues in meeting building code requirements may develop.

Furthermore, the shipping of an entire completed curved staircase to a building structure many miles from the factory may entail significant logistical problems and may incur a great expense. In addition, the cost of pre-manufacturing such a curved staircase may run into the many thousands of dollars even prior to final installation into a building structure. Finally, such prior art building construction of curved staircases may result in problems with the structural integrity of the curved staircase and, more particular, problems associated with the connection of the curved staircase to upper and lower levels of the building structure A common problem that may develop with curved staircases of the prior art is that staircase squeaking may occur over time due to the gradual loosening of joints in the stairs.

Still further, even though a spiral staircase may occupy less room than a straight staircase, it still occupies the room. This may not be a problem in large homes, but in smaller areas, such as apartments, it may present a problem. Since a stairway may not be used at all times, a stairway of any type, spiral or straight, may represent wasted space.

Therefore, there is a need for a staircase that is aesthetically pleasing yet makes all efficient use of space.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-discussed problems and to provide a staircase that is aesthetically pleasing and makes efficient use of spaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by a movable and reconfigurable staircase. The Staircase can be configured as a straight stair, a circular stair, or a combination stair. The stair can be configured into a storage configuration and can be stored in a manner that frees the area that would otherwise be occupied by the stairway, thereby freeing space. In fact, the collapsed staircase can even be stored inside a closet or storage room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the staircase embodying the present invention in the stored configuration.

FIG. 2 shows the staircase embodying the present invention in the spiral-deployed stored configuration.

FIG. 3 shows the drive system of the staircase associated with the stairs of the staircase.

FIG. 4 shows a gear set of the staircase drive system associated with the stairs.

FIG. 5 shows a gear set of the staircase drive system associated with the drive motor.

FIG. 6 shows the staircase embodying the present invention in a stored configuration in place.

FIG. 7 shows the staircase embodying the present invention in a spiral-deployed stored configuration in place.

FIG. 8 shows the staircase embodying the present invention in a straight-deployed configuration in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a Staircase 10 (FIG. 3), which is movable and configurable into a straight configuration 10′ (FIG. 8), or a spiral configuration 10° (FIGS. 2 and 7) or a stored configuration 10S (FIGS. 1 and 6).

The staircase includes a plurality of steps, such as step 20, and a handrail system 30 comprises vertical supports, such as vertical support 32 and collapsible handhold rails, such as rope 34. As will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure, the steps are movable concerning each other. The handrail system is collapsible to move between a fully-deployed configuration such as FIG. 2 and a fully-stored configuration such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The fully-stored design will free up floor space that a staircase would have occupied.

Referring to FIG. 3, it can be understood that each step has a case 50 having a first wall 52, which is a top wall when the stair is deployed for use, A second wall 54, a bottom wall when the stair Is deployed for use, and two side walls 56 and 58; the walls enclose an interior volume 60 for each step.

The staircase is moved between the various configurations by a drive system 70, which is best shown in FIGS. 3 4, and 5. Referring to those figures, it can be understood that drive system 70 includes a drive axle 72 that is vertically oriented and extends for the entire length of the staircase. The drive axle rotates about its longitudinal axis as indicated by arrow 74 and is driven by a motor system 80, which is located inside step 40, which will remain stationary when the staircase is reconfigured which steps such as step 20″ and 20′″ move relative to step 40.

Drive system 70 includes a motor 80, which is operably connected to the drive axle 72 by a speed reducer 82 mounted on the output shaft 84 of the motor and which is connected by a shaft 85 to a drive gear 86, which rotates in addition to that Gear 86 is a mitered bevel gear that mates with corresponding mitered beveled gears 88 and 90 mounted on the drive axle. Rotation of gear 86 causes corresponding rotation of gears 88 and 90, which causes the drive axle to rotate. A handle 100 is attached by an axle 102 to a mitered beveled gear 104 that mates with gears 88 and 90 to operate the drive axle by hand if desired.

Rotation of drive axle 72 is translated into movement of the steps by gear systems 110 in each step. Each gear system includes a spur gear 120 mounted on the drive axle for rotation therewith and which mates with a corresponding spur gear 122 fixedly climbed to the step whereby rotation of axle 72 is transferred to the step by the mated Spur gears. Rotation of the gear 122 causes the step on which it is mounted to rotate and move in a manner that can be, understood by comparing FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. The gear ratios of gears 120 and 122 for each step are selected, so the steps deploy with respect to each other to define the spiral configuration from the straight and stored configurations. That is, for example, the gear ratios for gears mounted on step 20A with respect to the gear ratios of the gears mounted on step 20B are selected, so step 20A moves into the position shown in FIG. 2. when step 20B moves into the position shown in FIG. 2 for the spiral configuration. The appropriate gear ratios will be understood by one skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure; the prime and double-prime notations correspond to the steps 20′ and 20″ as discussed above.

The present invention is embodied in a movable and reconfigurable staircase. The precise means for moving the steps is not the invention per se but is a means of effecting the desired movement and reconfiguration. Thus, the exact gear combinations are not the invention but are merely means for carrying out the objective of the story, to wit: a movable and reconfigurable staircase. As such, the exact details of the gears and gear systems can be selected as necessary. Therefore, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, means other than those disclosed herein can be used to transfer the motor output to the steps without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific conditions or arrangements of parts described and shown. 

1. A hidden rotating staircase comprises a plurality of rotating staircase units (20), a forward driving spindle (72′), a reverse driving spindle (72), a fixed staircase unit (40) and a driving device (70), which are characterized as follows: Described the spiral staircase unit (20) including positive spiral staircase unit (20′) and reverse rotating staircase unit (20″) and described several positive spiral staircase unit (20′) fixed installed on the top of the stairs unit (40), described several reverse spiral staircase unit (20′) is installed on a fixed down to the bottom of the stairs unit (40); the forward driving spindle (72′) is penetrated through a plurality of forward rotating stair units (20′) to a fixed stair unit (40), and the reverse driving spindle (72) is penetrated through a plurality of reverse rotating stair units (20′) to a fixed stair unit, The forward rotating stair unit (20′) rotates clockwise with the axis of the forward driving spindle (72′) as the rotation axis, while the reverse rotating stair unit (20′) rotates counterclockwise with the axis of the reverse driving spindle (72) as the rotation axis.
 2. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 1, wherein the fixed staircase unit (40) is provided with a driving device (70) and a manual device, the driving device (70) comprises a driving motor (80) and a reducer (82), the reducer (82) through a connecting rod (85) is connected with a transmission gear (86), The lower end of the forward driving spindle (72′) is provided with a forward driving gear (88), the upper end of the reverse driving spindle (72) is provided with a reverse driving gear (90), wherein the transmission gear (86) is respectively meshing with the forward driving gear (88) and the reverse driving gear (90); The manual device is arranged on the side of the fixed stair unit (40).
 3. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 1, wherein the forward rotating stair unit (20″) comprises a forward rotating stair body (20″) and a forward rotating device (110″), and the reverse rotating stair unit (20″″) comprises a reverse rotating stair body (20″) and a reverse rotating device (110″); the forward rotating device (110′) comprises a forward driving gear (120′) and a forward rotating gear ring (122′). The forward driving gear (120′) is set on the forward driving spindle (72′). The forward rotating gear ring (122′) is installed and fixed on the forward rotating stair body (20′). The forward driving gear (120′) meshes with the forward rotating gear ring (122′); the reverse rotating device (110″) comprises a reverse driving gear (120″) and a reverse rotating gear ring (122″), the reverse rotating gear ring (122″) is mounted on the reverse driving spindle (72), and the reverse rotating gear ring (122″) is mounted and fixed on the reverse rotating stair body (20″), Wherein the reverse drive gear (120″) is meshed with the reverse rotating gear ring (122″).
 4. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 1, wherein a guardrail post (32) is arranged on the outside of said forward rotating staircase unit (20′), reverse rotating staircase unit (20″) and fixed staircase unit (40), and the guardrail post (32) is detachable; the guardrail column (32) of the fixed staircase unit (40) is arranged in the middle position of the lateral side of the fixed staircase unit (40), and the guardrail column (10) of the fixed staircase unit (40) is rotated upward in turn by the guardrail column (20′) backward in turn by a position of the guardrail column (32); The guardrail post (32) of the reverse rotating staircase unit (20″) of the fixed staircase unit (40) downward in turn differs one position of the guardrail post (32) in turn forward; The upper end of the guardrail column (32) is connected with a guardrail soft cable (34).
 5. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 3, wherein a guardrail post (32) is arranged on the outside of said forward rotating staircase unit (20′), reverse rotating staircase unit (20″) and fixed staircase unit (40), and the guardrail post (32) is detachable; the guardrail column (32) of the fixed staircase unit (40) is arranged in the middle position of the lateral side of the fixed staircase unit (40), and the guardrail column (10) of the fixed staircase unit (40) is rotated upward in turn by the guardrail column (20′) backward in turn by a position of the guardrail column (32); The guardrail post (32) of the reverse rotating staircase unit (20″) of the fixed staircase unit (40) downward in turn differs one position of the guardrail post (32) in turn forward; The upper end of the guardrail column (32) is connected with a guardrail soft cable (34).
 6. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 2, wherein the manual device (6) comprises a manual transmission gear (104) and a hand wheel (100), wherein the manual transmission gear (104) is respectively meshing with a forward transmission gear (88) and a reverse transmission gear (90), wherein the hand wheel (100) is connected with a manual transmission gear (104) through a transmission shaft (102).
 7. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 1, wherein the number of said forward spiral staircase units (20′) and reverse spiral staircase units (20″) is equal.
 8. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 3, wherein the number of said forward spiral staircase units (20′) and reverse spiral staircase units (20″) is equal.
 9. The hidden rotating staircase according to claim 3, wherein storage drawers are arranged inside the forward rotating staircase body (20′) and the reverse rotating staircase body (20′). 